Egypt arrests five members of Muslim Brotherhood

Cairo: Egyptian security forces arrested five members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, including a former parliamentary candidate, in sweeps ahead of local elections due in April, the Brotherhood said.

The men, mostly professionals in mid-level leadership positions, were taken from their homes in Menoufia in the Nile Delta, where the Brotherhood has a strong popular base.

Security sources said the men were accused of belonging to a banned group and possessing anti-government literature.

Ibrahim Haggag, a former candidate in Egyptian parliamentary elections, was among those detained on Thursday, the Brotherhood said.